Welcome back to Conskipper’s New Comic Day Picks for the week of November 18, 2020!
Thanksgiving is almost here and that means the holiday season is now closer than we can imagine, offering a great opportunity for comic lovers to fill out their wish lists. This week’s picks include a a royal wedding (and the end of a great run), a celebration of 80 years of a character, the continuation of a highly-anticipated and controversial series, an exciting take on a long-established character, and the origins of a critical favorite.
–Aquaman #65 (DC Comics): Kelly Sue DeConnick finishes her run on Aquaman with a royal wedding (much more elaborate than DeConnick originally intended) and a fitting conclusion to her reestablishment of Arthur as a major player in the DC universe, and more importantly, a humanized-version of the character. DeConnick is joined by artist Miguel Mendonca for the festivities, which also includes appearances by the Justice League. Arthur and Mera were one of the first married couples in comics, but DC decided to split them up when the company began their New 52 initiative. It is fitting that DeConnick caps her run with this milestone, putting the two together again at last.
-Captain America #25 (Marvel Comics): Ta-Nehisi Coates wraps up the “All Die Young” storyline in this over-sized issue. Along with artist Leonard Kirk, Coates has done a fantastic job with this series, breathing new life into the 80 year old character and his supporting cast. In the final issue of this arc, Cap and the crew attempt to rescue the Daughters of Liberty in Madripoor and his reborn arch nemesis the Red Skull stands in their way. Besides the hair-raising conclusion, this issue also contain a second celebratory story by Michael Cho and Anthony Falcone. Add in another gorgeous Alex Ross cover and you can’t pass this one up.
-Rorschach #2 (DC Comics): Tom King and Jorge Fornés made a lot of believers with their first issue, somehow making a Watchmen comic palatable and interesting to hard core Alan Moore fans. The creative team is back for a second round, hoping to keep all of the naysayers at bay. The story continues to grow in issue two with a strange connection between an classic comic book artist and Rorschach and an attempted assassination of a presidential candidate take center stage. King expertly weaves in elements of the original in a new fashion (like the meta take on the comic artist) and continues to expand on the most recognizable member of the Crimebusters. This one carries the DC Black Label imprint and it is intended for older readers over 18 (are there any other these days?).
-Spider-Woman #6 (Marvel Comics): If you haven’t picked up Karla Pacheco and Pere Perez Spider-Woman comic, you are missing out on one of the hidden gems currently taking place in the Marvel Universe. Jessica Drew has become an increasingly more interesting and important member of the Marvel’s stable, but Pacheco and Perez are expanding on her mythology in creative and unexpected ways. This issue sees Jessica on the hunt for The High Evolutionary, a character long considered out of her league. And if you haven’t seen the cover, this issue also brings together two friends who go great together, creating a new Marvel Team-Up in 2020 with Carol Danvers.
–Barbalien #1 (Dark Horse Comics): The origin of Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer character is handled by writer Tate Brombal and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta and they fit right in with the rest of the fine comics being produced around the parent series. In the first issue, Mark Markz (a thinly-veiled stand-in for J’onn J’onzz of DC fame) walks the line between being a police officer and superhero in the 1980’s in the midst of the AIDS Crisis, before he has to face a threat from his past. Like Black Hammer and all of the spin-offs, Barbalien entertains and also contains engaging subtext.
That’s it for this week. Stay safe and keep supporting your local comic shops.